magandang hapon
/maɡanˌdaŋ ˈhapon/
magandang hapon is the Filipino way to say good afternoon. Wiktionary also lists magandang tanghali.
Meaning: greeting said in the afternoon (phrase)
Ways to say it
| Filipino | IPA |
|---|---|
| magandang hapon | /maɡanˌdaŋ ˈhapon/ (Standard Tagalog) |
| magandang tanghali | /maɡanˌdaŋ taŋˈhaliʔ/ (Standard Tagalog) |
This phrase is a standard greeting used during the afternoon. In Filipino, it is common to use the adjective maganda (beautiful/good) as the standard way to express good in time-based greetings.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of maganda (beautiful) and hapon (afternoon), connected by the linker -ng.
Which one should you use?
Use magandang tanghali for the period around noon, whereas magandang hapon is used for the afternoon.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In the Cebu region, speakers of the Cebuano language use Maayong hapon! to say good afternoon.
How does it change in a sentence?
Adding po to the end of the phrase, as in magandang hapon po, makes the greeting polite and respectful when addressing elders or people in authority.
How do you pronounce it?
/maɡanˌdaŋ ˈhapon/
Did you know?
- The word hapon is a homonym in Filipino. While it means 'afternoon' in this greeting, it also means 'Japanese' when used as a noun.
- The word hapon is derived from a Proto-Philippine word meaning 'to roost'. This connects the concept of 'afternoon' to the time when birds return to their nests.
- The linker -ng in magandang hapon is a grammatical tool that blends the adjective and noun. Without it, the phrase would sound broken or unnatural to a native speaker.
Examples in context
- Magandang hapon.Good afternoon.This sentence is useful for seeing the phrase magandang hapon in use.Tatoeba #2113763 by kerbear407, translation #499689 by CK
- Magandang hapon sa inyong lahat.Good afternoon to you all.
- Magandang hapon, Gng. Reyes.Good afternoon, Mrs. Reyes.
- 1 more sentence on Tatoeba
Example conversation
A man and a woman meet in a neighborhood hallway.
- AngelaMagandang hapon, Jose.Good afternoon, Jose.
- JoseMagandang hapon din sa iyo, Angela.Good afternoon to you too, Angela.
- AngelaSaan ka pupunta?Where are you going?
- JoseSa palengke lang.Just to the market.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “good afternoon” translations and entries magandang hapon, magandang tanghali, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries hapon, magandang hapon, magandang tanghali, tanghali, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
